Safety drop-door hook



AP1417, 1931- R. D. SMITH 1,800,161

SAFETY DROP DOOR HOOK Filed April 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 cfi:

APril 1931- R. D. SMITH 1,800,161

SAFETY DROP DOOR HOOK Filed April 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O 0' l I l l 1.91

l i I l l l l l I l I l! I! I 1 o 0' I "I 'IIIIIIIIII 5 6 l 62cm. wA 4 Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RICHARD 1)., SMITH, G ANDOVER, VIRGINIA SAFETY DROPDOOR HOOK Application filed April 26, 1930. Serial No. 447,548,

This invention relates to safety means for i use in connection with the drop doors of hopper cars" employed in the transportation of coal, coke, ballast and commodities handled 5 in bulk.

Usually, the drop doors are operated by a winding mechanism which is generally relied upon to holdthe door closed against the stress of the load, but it frequently happens that the weight of the. load under jar and vibration disables the winding mechanism and permits the door to open and dump the load. i

The present invention guards against an emergency of the nature stated and supplies a hook, of peculiar formation, which acts in dependently of the accustomed winding mechanism to hold the door closed and sustain all stresses tending to force the door open. a,

The invention, furthermore, provides a member coacting with the hook to hold it in one of three positions, locked, neutral and elevated, and which may be readily adjusted to the desired position to admit of the door opening, closing or being free to swing in either direction.

While the drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed,

without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an end portion of a hopper car, illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the chute,

parts being broken away to show the ordinary winding mechanism associated with the drop door and depicting an application of the safety hook forming the invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view 5 on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the safety hook locked.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the safety hook released, and the member coacting therewith in neutral position.

Figure 6 is a view of the parts illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,showing the safety hook elevated to permit of unobstructed opening and closin of the drop door.

Figure l is an enlarged sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a modification showing the hook and coacting member provided with teeth to prevent displacement.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sec tionalview on the line 99 of Figure 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the body of a hopper car utilized for hauling commodities in bulk and provided in its bottom with chutes 2 for discharge of theload. Each of the chutes 2 is provided with the usual drop door 3 which is hinged at the top to swing outwardly to open position at the bottom, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig ure 2. Referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral 4 designates the winding mechanism associated with the doors 3 for efiecting an opening and a closin thereof. This winding mechanism is ordinarily depended upon to maintain the door closed against the thrust of the load and should it giva way, the door opens and discharges the loat In accordance with the present invention, a safety hook 5 is provided and is pivoted to the outer side of thechute 2, it being understood that each side of the car is similarly equipped with a hook. A batten 6 is located adjacent the lower end ofthe door 3 and in accordance with the present invention, this battenis of a length to beengaged by the hook 5, as indicated most clearly inthe several views of the drawings. The pivot 7 upon which the hook 5 is mounted may consist of a rivet, bolt or other fastening, the pivotal end of the hook 5 being recessed in its top side, as indicated at 8. The recess is of semicircular outline and defines two horns or extensions 9 and 10, and is located opposite the pivot 7' with the result that thehorns or eX- tensions 9 and 10 are disposed upon opposite sides a of a line passing perpendicularly through the pivot 7. 7 a

A member 11 coacts with the safety hook 5 and iseccentrically pivoted. disposed opposite the recess 8 to lie therein to hold the safety hook 5 in closed position as indicated most cle'arly in'Figure l, or in elevated position, as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. As indicated in Figure 4, the member 11 abuts the horn or extension 9 and, as shown in Fig- .,ure 6, it engages the horn or extension 10.

The member 11 is slightly elongated or ell-iptical and iii-either one of:the positions shown in F gures 4 and 6,.1t engages both horns or extensions but the IIlLJOI' or active x axis is in linewiththe element 9 in Figure l,

and with the element 10 in Figure 6, as will bereadily appreciated. The member 11 par takesof the nature of a holder and is mountedupon a pivot 12which may consist of a rivet or analogous fastening attached to a side of the chute 2. A- link 13 connects the outer. ends of the pivots 7. and,12, thereby bracing and reinforcing thesame. A filler 14 is interposed betweenthe hook 5, member 11, and. side. of the-chute. 2, and is. retained in :place by the pivot fasteners 7aand 12, as in Ydicatedmost clearly inFigure 7 of the drawings., The engaging faces. of the parts. 5 and a 11 may be plane] or toothed, .as indicated in Figure 8, and in the latter'instance, displacement of the parts is prevented, as will be vreadily comprehended.

.VVhenthedrop door 3 is closed and the safety hook engaged over the batten 6 and the hook madesecure by the member 11, as

indicated in Figured, accidental opening of the door is prevented. When the member 11 .isadjusted to a neutral position, as indicated in Figurefi, the door, if open, may be swung into closed position, and the hook will ride upon the batten. .6 and automatically engage thereover and lock the door. 'When the member-1lis adjusted to the position indicated in Figure 6, the hook 5 is-heldelevated and out of the path of the batten 6, so that the door 3 may swing freely and unobstructedly into position, elevated, or in neutral the recess and having a major axis adapted to positively engage either end of the recess to hold'the hook locked or elevated.

4. The combination with the drop door of ,a hopper car, of a safety hook formed with a semi-circular recess, a holding member engageable with the recessof the hook, pivots connecting the hook and holdingmember to the car, and alink connecting the. outer ends of the pivots.

5. The combination withthe dropvdoor of a hopper car,-ofa safety hookformed with asemi-circu'lar recess, a holdingmemberengageable' with the recess of the hook, pivots connecting the hook and} holding member to the car,'a link connecting the outerends of the pivots, and .a filler between theccar and the hook and holding member and retained in place by the pivot 'fastenings.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature.

RICHARD D. vSMITH. [L. -s.]

open or closed position. The safety hook may be'used in conj unctionwith the usual winding mechanism or independently thereof, and serves in conjunction with the vmember 11 $01001; the door against accidental opening, as will be readily understood.

,What is'claimed is: v I I 1. Safety means for a drop door, compris- 'ing a hook having a recess of approximate serial-circular outline mits upper sldeat its pivotal .end, and a member eccentrically mounted above the'hook in position-to engage theg a d irece st i dm o ho ng'th ook 

